A Grand Vacation: The 2012 Grand Floridian FAQ!

[k&a&c'smom]

Cali-D - I see what you're saying now about the access for equipment. I, too, have assumed the zero entry would be on the Conch end but was confused by the photos. Doesn't take much, lol.

I was nodding my head at the "aka my favorite section of the pool"!~sigh~ I'll keep my fingers crossed for your vision of a deeper leisure pool - like you, I doubt our dreams will be realized, but we can hold out hope.

 

[stefani_]

I was wondering, do the CM's at the pool check to make sure you are a GF resort guest before you are allowed in? This question is in regards to the pool currently open, as well as regular procedures. (I am aware that the courtyard pool is currently closed!)

 

[DetTigsGal]

I have not been checked in the past, but don't know if they are given the current situation .

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

I bet you had a wry smile on your face as you were typing that. Thanks for the suggestions -- she is a Vera Bradley girl, so maybe I will see if they have something like that.

Tom

Oh your niece has good taste, a Vera Bradley girl. Like I said we are a family of all guys so I didn't even think about Basin White. I have to agree with the others, Basin White is very, very nice.

OH Happy dance for you. One More Day. YEAH. Have a Magical Trip.

CoachBagFanatic, on your plans. Our DD is like your son, a huge fan of Narcoossee's.

Hey Lady, We are very excited about the GF. We just added another night to out stay making it 7 nights instead of 6.

Can't wait to make our ADR's.

jungle cruiser, coachbagfanatic, k&a&c'smom, butterflygirl...anyone I misses...my apologies...

Thanks to all for the updates, pics new & old!!! I am behaving and staying away from GF next month..Sugarloaf is no longer available so it's easier..and luckily RPC only with rack rate....GF will have to wait for the Pas clan until 2013 or 2014

Hi pas130 . See you resisting to change your ressie is like me resisting to pack early. Most of the time I can't.

CoachBagFanatic - I get you regarding the Narcoossee's pick, sounds like Citricos will have to wait for another time.

Yes, Citricos will definitely have to wait for now. Hey, it's the least I can do to make Michael's trip a great one.

OK do you think it's too early to program the GPS in my car for our drive in June?

 

[dukiephi]

Just changed our reservation from Garden View to Lagoon View. I really want to see MK from our balcony to see the fireworks but there were no MK rooms available. I asked for a Lagoon view where I could see the castle -- is this likely and which buildings should I ask for to try to see the castle?

Thanks in advance

 

[k&a&c'smom]

I was wondering, do the CM's at the pool check to make sure you are a GF resort guest before you are allowed in? This question is in regards to the pool currently open, as well as regular procedures. (I am aware that the courtyard pool is currently closed!)

The GF lifeguards have never checked IDs in the past, but the pools there are rarely crowded. As DetTigsGal stated, they may start checking when the villas are completed.

OK do you think it's too early to program the GPS in my car for our drive in June?

Just changed our reservation from Garden View to Lagoon View. I really want to see MK from our balcony to see the fireworks but there were no MK rooms available. I asked for a Lagoon view where I could see the castle -- is this likely and which buildings should I ask for to try to see the castle?

Thanks in advance

In general, a lagoon view will not have a castle view. Any room that has a castle view should be designated "theme park view." There is always a chance you will get an upgrade, or you may have an obstructed view - through trees, at an oblique angle, etc.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

k&a&c'smom Thought you would find that funny. I was just saying this morning that we have to put our bathing suits and sun tan lotion in my back pack for when we arrive just in case our room isn't ready. This way we can head to the cabana. It's never to early for me to pack even if it is swim suits and sun tan lotion.

Another room question. Is the marina side of the Conch Key building considered lagoon view or garden view? I am leaning toward lagoon view. TIA

 

[k&a&c'smom]

k&a&c'smom Thought you would find that funny. I was just saying this morning that we have to put our bathing suits and sun tan lotion in my back pack for when we arrive just in case our room isn't ready. This way we can head to the cabana. It's never to early for me to pack even if it is swim suits and sun tan lotion.

Another room question. Is the marina side of the Conch Key building considered lagoon view or garden view? I am leaning toward lagoon view. TIA

Marina view, whether from Conch or Sago, is in the garden view category - sweet, right?!

I'm giggling about the sun tan lotion and bathing suits, you crack me up.

 

[Tink rules]

If you get lagoon view.. make sure you tell them no construction view... cause that's a lagoon view too... (although I heard that they took rooms out of inventory because of the construction...)

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Does anyone know for sure of where the lagoon view rooms are? I was told years ago while staying at the resort that all the lagoon view rooms are south facing in Big Pine Key, and everything facing east in Big Pine Key and Boca Chica, and the northeast facing rooms in Sago Cay and Conch Key are all Theme Park View. That could have changed since then though (and I have had a couple TPV rooms obstructed by trees last year and the year before).

 

[k&a&c'smom]

If you get lagoon view.. make sure you tell them no construction view... cause that's a lagoon view too... (although I heard that they took rooms out of inventory because of the construction...)

Good point.

Does anyone know for sure of where the lagoon view rooms are? I was told years ago while staying at the resort that all the lagoon view rooms are south facing in Big Pine Key, and everything facing east in Big Pine Key and Boca Chica, and the northeast facing rooms in Sago Cay and Conch Key are all Theme Park View. That could have changed since then though (and I have had a couple TPV rooms obstructed by trees last year and the year before).

I'm glad you brought this up, I've been meaning to ask you if you know which rooms are designated "lagoon view." I have assumed the same as what you posted - most, if not all, lagoon view are facing the Poly in Big Pine.

However, DISers have posted their room assignments with lagoon view and some end up in other buildings. It's possible they are getting an upgrade, but I have wondered if some of the obstructed TPV rooms in Boca, Conch & Sago are listed as lagoon.

Thoughts? I have no info from the CMs, I always forget to ask when I am at the resort.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

Marina view, whether from Conch or Sago, is in the garden view category - sweet, right?!

I'm giggling about the sun tan lotion and bathing suits, you crack me up.

Sweet is right. I called and added the marina view to our requests and I also changed our ressie to: two nights at the Poly CL for Michael woohoo and then 5 nights at the GF for us woohoo. DH and I thought we were being quite this morning when talking about changing and including the Poly for Michael but I guess we weren't too quite. He heard us. Oh well there goes the surprise.

We only did this because Michael mentioned that he wants to go to the dark side for his HS graduation trip in 2014. So it will be the Hard Rock Hotel then.


I found a website which some of you probably already know about but it won't allow me to post the link. I will PM you the link and this may help with the views for the buildings. I don't know how old this is but it looks like it's pretty up to date. Hope it helps.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Good point.



I'm glad you brought this up, I've been meaning to ask you if you know which rooms are designated "lagoon view." I have assumed the same as what you posted - most, if not all, lagoon view are facing the Poly in Big Pine.

However, DISers have posted their room assignments with lagoon view and some end up in other buildings. It's possible they are getting an upgrade, but I have wondered if some of the obstructed TPV rooms in Boca, Conch & Sago are listed as lagoon.

Thoughts? I have no info from the CMs, I always forget to ask when I am at the resort.

I bet the people who have had luck in getting a lagoon view in the buildings other than BPK just received an upgrade to TPV, granted that they could see the park which I believe all the other rooms would have it in one way, shape, or form regardless of how obstructed it is. This would be true of some rooms in Conch Key, Boca Chica, and the end of Big Pine Key. I know both of our TPV rooms in Boca Chica had an obstructed view of the castle by trees (I think they were 8231 and 8317). Regardless, Boca Chica is my favorite building to stay in. We have had rooms in Big Pine Key as well that have had partial obstructions due to the trees, but I think that was before they segregated the Lagoon/TPV.

Sweet is right. I called and added the marina view to our requests and I also changed our ressie to: two nights at the Poly CL for Michael woohoo and then 5 nights at the GF for us woohoo. DH and I thought we were being quite this morning when talking about changing and including the Poly for Michael but I guess we weren't too quite. He heard us. Oh well there goes the surprise.

We only did this because Michael mentioned that he wants to go to the dark side for his HS graduation trip in 2014. So it will be the Hard Rock Hotel then.


I found a website which some of you probably already know about but it won't allow me to post the link. I will PM you the link and this may help with the views for the buildings. I don't know how old this is but it looks like it's pretty up to date. Hope it helps.

I'd certainly be willing to take a look at it. I think I may know the site you are talking about but I lost the bookmark to it when I got a new computer.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

CoachBagFanatic - Congrats on your plans, Poly/GF is a fun split. LOL about spoiling the surprise, I never can keep one regarding vacation.

The site you are referring to has been banned, which is why you can't post the link.

Cali-D - thanks, I'll bet you are right. I've assumed (probably wrongly) that the rooms facing CR and the MK with trees blocking the view would NOT be sold as TPV. Seems like a recipe for many complaints, those rooms are so expensive. We had a Boca room that faced the lagoon, and you would have to be a contortionist to see anything. I think it was the room next to one you described - 8315 - but I'd have to look up my old folio to be sure.

Our one and only BPK castle view was before the division of lagoon/TPV - lovely view, btw.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

CoachBagFanatic - Congrats on your plans, Poly/GF is a fun split. LOL about spoiling the surprise, I never can keep one regarding vacation.

The site you are referring to has been banned, which is why you can't post the link.

Thanks, Well, I was trying to be quiet but my DH kept talking about it and of course, Michael figured it out. Well a 5 year old could have figured it out the way my DH was talking.

Oh, we are looking forward to the split stay. We have already decided to stop over instead of driving straight through the night. This will allow me to do all the driving. Besides, Michael feels more comfortable with me driving anyway. I know, good excuse right.

Appreciate the heads up about the banned site.

 

[jojomickey]

Hello everyone I don't post very often but I just wanted to say that two years ago we booked two rooms adjoining I think it was conch key TPV. When we went up the rooms one room had a perfect view of the castle and the other a big pine tree right in the middle!!!!!!! We could not see the castle from this room!!! We went back to the front desk and asked about it and the manager did give us a credit because they did not have two adjoining rooms TPV to move us to,but that one room definetly wasn't TPV. It was ok though at least one was! We didn't feel like waiting till the next day and then leaving the parks to have to move to the other rooms we just wanted to settle in and enjoy our trip. They must have known if not they would not have given us a credit

 

[sndral]

I found a website which some of you probably already know about but it won't allow me to post the link. I will PM you the link and this may help with the views for the buildings. I don't know how old this is but it looks like it's pretty up to date. Hope it helps.

If this offer is still good, could you pm it to me? I'm a bit ambivalent about getting too caught up in view research tho', I did that before staying at the Poly and at AKL, I poured over possible views and was a bit disappointed w/ what I ended up w/ initially (got over it pretty fast, tho'.)
Well, the GF part of my Mickey mail came today, guess that means it's getting close - not quite start checking Orlando weather close, but close.
Any thoughts on GF cafe - I've not eaten there and am thinking I may do so, the offerings look better than any of the MK restaurants w/openings on the day I need. Kona's is available, as well, but I've been there and it might be nice to try GF cafe this time.

 

[tamj]

If this offer is still good, could you pm it to me? I'm a bit ambivalent about getting too caught up in view research tho', I did that before staying at the Poly and at AKL, I poured over possible views and was a bit disappointed w/ what I ended up w/ initially (got over it pretty fast, tho'.)
Well, the GF part of my Mickey mail came today, guess that means it's getting close - not quite start checking Orlando weather close, but close.
Any thoughts on GF cafe - I've not eaten there and am thinking I may do so, the offerings look better than any of the MK restaurants w/openings on the day I need. Kona's is available, as well, but I've been there and it might be nice to try GF cafe this time.

We had a NY strip steak at the GF cafe last Dec and it was a great. meal.

 

[Butterflygirl35]

The GF Cafe was my favorite for breakfast as well. Really good food and excellent service.

Wish I was there now...

I just booked a last minute trip to POR (leaving Friday!) but only for two nights.. I could not wait until January.. LOL I am a true addict.

 

[followthatmouse]

We love GF Cafe for breakfast. I'm not sure the cardiologist would agree, though... Lobster Eggs Benedict!

Butterflygirl35, I can understand that addiction of yours.

Okay, a quick question. I plan to bring an ipad on our upcoming visit. What will I need to do to access the WiFi at the GF?